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AN EULOGY ON THE DEATH 
OF GEORGE WASHINGTON 

DELIVERED AT GUILFORD 

FEBRUARY 22, 1800 

BY 

iDOCTOR DAVID S. BROOKS 



. ^ facsimile reproduction from 
the only known copy now in the 
Slackstone Memorial Library. 



^ BRANFORD, CONNECTICUT 
THE BLACKSTONE MEMORIAL LIBRARY 
1920 



Wnl^MW^ ^^' 



CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, 

On this gloomy occasion I arise to address thi> 
respectable audience. And did I not this moment 
anticipate your friendly indulgence, on account of 
my inexperience as a public speaker, together with 
the short time allotted me for that purpose, I should 
sink in the attempt. The attentive gravity, the 
venerable appearance of this audience, the dignity 
which I behold in the countenances of so many in 
this assembly, the solemnity of the occasion upon 
which we have met together, joined to a considera- 
tion of the part I am to take in tlie important busi- 
ness of this da}', fills me wifli an arre hitherto un- 
known. 

Allured by the call of some of my respectable fel- 
low-citizen8, with whose request it is always my 
greatest pleasure to comply,*! almost forgot my want 
of ability to perform what they required. 

The mortality of man is a truth, though seldom 
realized, is as certain as that of his existence. From 
the creation of the world to the present era, the seeds 
of death have been implanted in aU generations — 
the principles that are calculated to dissolve our 
bodies are inherent in our natures, and in tlie midst 
of life, we are on the brink of the silent grave. Every 
moment gives incontestable proof of the assertion, 
and witnesses the fact. Life is nothing more than a 
prelude to the grave (its best improvement) but a 
preparation for eternity. 

When we contemplate the idea that soul and body, 
must, ere long, dissolve the near connection, we 
are apt to recpil and shudder at the thought: but 



[ [4] 

pain, disease, and death, are constant attendants 
I upon man, and the justice of Gk>d is reconcilable 

\ with, and doubtless ordained by Him for the best of 

■ purposes, itis confirmed by Divine revelation, that 

it is better to go to tiie house of mourning than to 
the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men, 
and the living will lay it to heart. However dis- 
! agreeable to our natural disposition, the contempla- 

f tion of death may be, yet it affords more instruction 

; than all the works of genius or fancy. Those clay- 

cold lodgings where our departed friends and rela- 
I tives lie, in promiscuous ruin, exhibits a lesson more 

i instructive than the pens of Poets or Philosophers, 

: nor tongues of men or angels can address the human 

i heart in such forcible language as yonder raonumen- 

i / tal inscriptions ; when the conqucrer death has 

spread his sable veil over the body of a departed 
friend ; when divested of its ornaments, the produc- 
^- tions of nature. We behold it shrouded in the wind- 

f ing sheet and dressed for the grave, the lifeless body 

[ stretched on the gloomy hearse, and borne by 

friends and relations to the silent mansion of tho 
tomb, there to mingle wfth its native ashes and 
moulder to its primitive state. 

Death is inevitable, neither the hoary hairs of the 
venerable and aged sire can avert the deadly blow, 
. nor the wisdom or sagacity of the middle aged can 

devise a plan whereby they may escape, nor the 
athletic youth is able to withstand ; nor the4?looming 
innocence of the lovely maiden can ward the deadly 
J shaft; nor even the piteous cries of the tender babe 

move his compassion. 

If all that was noble cotild avail, our beloved Wash- 
ington had still been alive. But, alas, he who once 
could conquer o\jr temporal foes, must submit lo the 
inandate of Heaven, and fall a victim to the univer- 
sal homicide. It is not my intention to speak a 
panegyric on our departed friend. The whole tenor 
of his life has been a complete emblem of wisdom 



and reiigiou, and therefore needs no comment but s 
few observations may perhaps be expected at this 
time. O that my g-enious was equal to the task, 
that I could extend my voice (hrough the spacious 
earth, that I could display the immense and g-lorious 
picture of the victories and achievments, that could 
be mentioned of our most intrepid defender. 

At this moment a people assembled to express their 
gratitude to the virtuous citizen who hath deserved 
it, how ag'reeable is the task, how we delight in pay- 
ing- him that homag-e. Him to whom the country 
owes its safety, its g-lory, and the foundation of its 
prosperity. Him to whom America owes its politi- 
cal regeneratiouj, 

Couragious philosopher, whose writing's have plant- 
ed the seeds of the revolution ; corroded the fetters 
of slavery ; obtunded by degrees the ravings of fana- 
ticism. That citizen whose dauntless courage ef- 
fected our happy revohition, founded the republic 
and contended ambition, royalism and anarchy ; hira, 
in u word, who laboured to render America happy, 
flourishing, and fiee. 

A chief in all the ways of battle skill'd, 
Great in the council, mighty in the field ; 
Whose martial arm and steady soul, alone 
Hath made the Britons shake, their navy groao. 
And their proud empire totter to the throne. 

Let us trace our beloved friend through the mar- 
tial field ; what victories he won ; what wonders be 
achieved. He fought, he bled, he conquered, and 
the trophies of his labours were America-s indepen- 
dence, and peace. View him in the cabinet, how 
with unerring wisdom conducts the whole, and like 
a steady helmsman, stearsthe vast political machine. 
View him in tlie peaceful shades of retirement, the 
sage and philosopher. But where shall we view hira 
now— -alas ! he is gone beyond the ken of mortal 
siglit. Washington, our beloved friend and patriot, 



m 



[ 6 ] 

is no more I The silver cord is loosed, the goldea 
bowl i& broken. Weep then ye venerable fathers, 
\ mourn ye middle aged, weep ye youth and virgins, 

and let all, with a tear of gratitude, bedue his sacred 
urn; weep one and all ye children of America — 
( though Washington is dead yet still he lives, lives in 

I our hearts and memories, and may he ever live. May 

J generations yet unborn revere the name of Wash- 

I ington 1 Let fathers to their children recite his deeds, 

, his manly courage, and the toils he bore — his painful 

sufferings of seven long tedious years of bloody war. 
Let lively gratitude expand the heart ; let veneration 
for his memory dwell in the mind until universal na- 
ture is dissolved. 
: But language is insufficient, and fails me to paint 

the worth of this invaluable man, of that illustrious 
character, who devoted his life to our service. That 
[ Washington whose expiring breath wafted a prayer 

i to Heaven for his country. Let it suffice us to say, 

< venerable hero, august philosopher, legislator of the 

I felicity of thy country, what extatic happiness em- 

I belised the end of thy career ! From thy fortunate 

I asylum, and in the midst of thy brothers, who enjoy- 

ed in tranquility the fruit of thy virtues, and the 
! success of thy genius, thou hast sang songs of deliver- 

'j ance. The last looks which thou didst cast around 

i thee, behold America happy — America free. Thy 

I remembrance belongs to all ages ; thy memory to 

all nations ; and thy glory to eternity* 

i Our Washington, the just the wise, 

! * In the dark earth entoomVd he lies ; 

I * H's soul through trackless paths has wingM its way 

To scenes of blest repose and everlasting day ' 
f Yet still, the memory of the just, 

] Will bud and blossom in the dust. 

( Finally, my friends, let ns one and all, that areprc 

sent, realize that all flcsli is grass, and that life is but 
a vapour ; mny the various instances of mortality, 



^ 






[ -7 ] 

llikt are daily sounding in our ears, excite us to a 

serious preparation for the solemn hour of death. 

We know not the day nor the hour when the awful 

messenger may arrive, and then, prepared or not, 

there is no reprieve. May this providence impress 

our minds iQ such a manner as may render it a happy 

mean of our eternal salvation, so that we may be 

provided with a sure defence against the weapons of 

death which ^y in secret, that whenever we are 

summoned from the stage of action, we may evade 

the second death, and be admitted into that world ' ^ 

where all tears shall be wiped away, and then be no 

more death ; when we shall see as we are seen, and 

know as we are known, and dwell for ever with the 

Lord. 

The exercises were then closed by prayer, and 
the farewell anthem, in the following words : 

" My friends, I am going a long and tedious jour" 
ney, never to return ! Fare you well my friends, and 
God grant we may meet together in that world above, 
where trouble shall cease and harmony shall abound. > 
Hark ! my dear friends, for Death hath called me, . 
and I must go and lie down in the cold and silent 
g^ave, where the mourner ceases from mournings and 
the prisoners are set free ; when the rich and the poor 
are both alike. 

Fare you well mj friends. 



^ 

fr^ 



.^v 



^*^ The forty copies of this reprint have been 
distributed as follows : 

1 . The Library at Mount Vernon. 

The gift of Miss Jennings. 

2. President Woodrow Wilson. 

3. Washington Memorial Library, Valley Forge. 

4 . American Antiquarian Society. 

5. Bibliotheque Nationale. 

6. Blackstone Memorial Library. 

7. Boston Athenaeum. 

8. British Museum. 

9. Chicago Historical Society. 

10. Connecticut Historical Society. 

1 1 . Connecticut State Library. 

12. Henry E. Huntington Library. 

13. Henry Whitfield Museum. 

14. Library of Congress. 

15. New Haven Colony Historical Society. 

16. New York Historical Society. 

17. New York Public Library. 

1 8 . New York State Library. 

1 9 . Princeton University Library. 

20. Virginia State Library . 

2 1 . Yale University Library. 

22. Mr. Charles N. Baxter. 

23. Brick Row Print and Book Shop. 

24. Mr. Alfred E. Hammer. 

25. Mr. Walter M. Hill. 



26. Mr. E. Kent Hubbard. 

27. Mr. Henry R. Huntting. 

28. Miss Annie B. Jennings. 

29. Mr . Waiter U . - Lewisson . 

30. Mr. Herman S. Lovejoy. 

31. Rev. Patrick McCarthy. 

32. Mr. Noah Farnham Morrison. 

33. Powner's Book Store. 

34. Mr. Morris W. Seymour. 

35. Mr . Harris€>n B . Smith . 

36. Mr. J. A. Spoor. 

37. Mr.J. F. Schoellkopf. 

38. Mr . Samuel H . Wheeler . 

3 9 . Mr. Harris Whittemore. 

40. Mr. RoUin S. Woodruff. 



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